Student expelled from Sheffield University social work course for comments on Facebook.

Felix Ngole

A Christian student has been expelled from a university social work course, after he made comments on his own Facebook page in support of biblical teaching on marriage and sexual ethics.

Second year Masters student Felix Ngole, 38, was told following a 'Fitness to Practise Committee' hearing at Sheffield University, that he has been "excluded from further study on a programme leading to a professional qualification" and is "no longer recognised as a University student."

Felix was told that, by posting his comments on Facebook, the Committee believed that he "may have caused offence to some individuals" and had "transgressed boundaries which are not deemed appropriate for someone entering the Social Work profession."

His action would have an effect on his "ability to carry out a role as a Social Worker," the Committee said.

Felix is appealing the decision, supported by the Christian Legal Centre.

If the decision is not overturned, it could prevent Felix from becoming a social worker, which he believes is his vocation.

Felix's case has gained widepsread media coverage, including The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Mail and The Express giving a Christian witness about marriage.

Felix says that the University's decision to exclude him effectively creates a "bar to office for Christians" and amounts to "secret policing of Christian belief."

He says that he is "determined to challenge the decision because of its wider consequences and the huge issues of freedom of religion and freedom of expression that it raises."

"My beliefs about marriage and sexual ethics reflect mainstream, biblical understanding, shared by millions around the world. Simply expressing that understanding, in a personal capacity, on my Facebook page, cannot be allowed to become a bar to serving and helping others in a professional capacity as a social worker," he adds.

Felix made the comments in question last September on his personal Facebook page, in connection with the case of Kim Davis, the marriage clerk from the US state of Kentucky, who expressed a conscientious objection to issuing marriage certificates to same-sex couples.

Felix expressed support for Kim Davies' freedom and in the course of the discussion explained biblical teaching on sexual ethics.

Nearly two months later, he received an email from a university official telling him that his comments were being investigated and summoning him to a meeting the following Monday.

Following further meetings, he has now been told that the Faculty of Social Sciences Fitness to Practise Committee had ruled that he should be removed from the course.